DENMARK, S.C. (Nov. 4, 2026) –
Shannon Jones delivered when it mattered most, knocking down the game-winning jumper with six seconds remaining to lift the Voorhees University men's basketball team to a thrilling 69-67 victory over Spartanburg Methodist College Wednesday evening at the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center.
The Tigers (3-1) erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outscored the Pioneers 43-32 in the second half to secure their third consecutive victory under head coach Derrick Mitchell.
Timothy Smith led the Tigers with a team-high 22 points off the bench, shooting an impressive 9-of-13 from the field and connecting on four three-pointers. Smith scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half, helping fuel the Tigers' comeback.
Ry'Darius Hill added 15 points, five rebounds and two steals, while Jones finished with 12 points, including the game-winning basket.
First Half: Pioneers Take Early Control
Voorhees opened the contest with a layup from Hill, but Spartanburg Methodist quickly responded with a series of baskets to establish an early advantage.
The Pioneers used efficient shooting and strong perimeter play to build a 17-7 lead midway through the opening period.
Voorhees battled to stay within striking distance behind contributions from Hill,
Donte Golden and
Jermarquis Johnson.
Golden provided an offensive spark with five first-half points, including a three-pointer, while Hill scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Spartanburg Methodist continued to apply pressure offensively, extending its lead to 35-22 with 33 seconds remaining in the half.
However, the Tigers closed the period with consecutive baskets from Hill and Johnson, trimming the deficit to 35-26 at halftime.
The Pioneers shot 56.5 percent from the field in the opening half, compared to 39.3 percent for Voorhees.
Second Half: Tigers Rally Behind Smith's Offensive Explosion
The Tigers emerged from halftime with renewed intensity, quickly cutting into the Pioneers' advantage.
Gabriel Wright opened the second-half scoring with a layup before Smith added another basket to pull Voorhees within five points.
Smith continued to provide an offensive spark, connecting on a three-pointer with 15:56 remaining to cut the deficit to 39-33.
With Spartanburg Methodist maintaining a narrow advantage, Voorhees gradually chipped away at the lead behind strong contributions from Hill, Smith and Jones.
A three-pointer from Smith with 9:43 remaining tied the contest at 48, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Jones then converted a layup and completed the three-point play with 8:51 remaining, giving Voorhees its first lead since the opening minutes at 51-50.
The Tigers continued to build momentum, using timely baskets and defensive pressure to maintain their advantage.
With 2:37 remaining, Smith converted a layup off an assist from Hill to give Voorhees a 62-57 lead.
After Spartanburg Methodist responded with a three-pointer, Smith answered with another shot from beyond the arc, pushing the Tigers' advantage to 65-60 with 1:47 remaining.
Smith added another basket with 58 seconds left, giving Voorhees a 67-62 advantage.
Final Seconds: Jones Delivers the Game-Winner
Despite trailing by five in the final minute, Spartanburg Methodist refused to go away.
Kennedy Aiken-Shannon connected on a three-pointer with 32 seconds remaining to cut the Tigers' lead to 67-65.
Following a missed Voorhees layup, Musa Muriithi knocked down a jumper with eight seconds remaining to tie the contest at 67.
However, the Tigers had one final opportunity.
With the game hanging in the balance, Jones delivered the decisive basket, connecting on a jumper with six seconds remaining to put Voorhees ahead 69-67.
The basket completed the Tigers' second-half comeback and secured their third consecutive victory.
By the Numbers
Voorhees finished the contest shooting 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field, including an impressive 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the second half.
The Tigers also connected on three of their seven second-half three-point attempts after shooting just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc in the opening period.
Voorhees held a significant advantage in points in the paint, outscoring Spartanburg Methodist 34-18.
The Tigers' bench proved instrumental, contributing 38 points compared to just nine from the Pioneers' reserves.
Defensively, Voorhees forced 14 turnovers while committing only seven, helping the Tigers generate additional offensive opportunities.
Spartanburg Methodist was led by CJ Terrell, who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Marshall Lamb added 14 points, while Aiken-Shannon contributed 13.
Tigers Continue Building Momentum
The victory marked Voorhees' third consecutive win following victories over Morris College (84-70) and Georgia Southern University–East Georgia Campus (70-60).
After dropping their season opener, the Tigers have responded with three straight victories, improving to 4-1 overall.
Wednesday's performance showcased the Tigers' resilience, as Voorhees overcame a nine-point halftime deficit and relied on timely offensive execution to secure another victory.
With Smith's second-half scoring surge and Jones' late-game heroics, the Tigers continue to build confidence and momentum early in the 2026-27 season.
Game Notes
- Final Score: Voorhees 69, Spartanburg Methodist 67
- Records: Voorhees (4-1), Spartanburg Methodist (0-2)
- Halftime: Spartanburg Methodist 35, Voorhees 26
- Leading Scorer: Timothy Smith – 22 points, four three-pointers
- Ry'Darius Hill: 15 points, five rebounds, two steals
- Shannon Jones: 12 points, game-winning jumper
- Bench Points: Voorhees 38, Spartanburg Methodist 9
- Points in the Paint: Voorhees 34, Spartanburg Methodist 18
- Winning Streak: Three games
Next Up: The Tigers will look to continue their winning streak as they return to action on Saturday, November 7 when they host Columbia College at 3 p.m.
